The youth of today are growing up in an era defined by technology. From the internet to cell phones, communication has evolved dramatically in just the last ten years. While the convenience of these new mediums is undeniable, it is changing how people interact with each other and the world at large. The young people are especially susceptible to this change, having come of age in the modern era. Instead of meeting someone face to face, individuals become associated through social networking websites; Instead of calling someone to coordinate plans, people text. Social cues are falling to the wayside. Things like body language, tone of voice, and all the tiny nuances of seeing the person you are interacting with are being lost. The youth are distancing themselves from the world. They experience life from behind computer screens. There needs to be a resurgence of involvement in the community if our society is ever going to be able to pull itself out of this rut. This is a just a further complication in the struggle to keep teens on the right track.

            Civic engagement is the remedy to this ever growing problem. The CACTC (Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition) is a group of concerned community leaders representing both the city and the county that decided to organize and create a coalition that decided to organize and create a coalition to address adolescent problem behaviors manifested locally.  The negative behaviors are substance abuse, school drop out, delinquency, teen pregnancy, and violence. The coalition used a long-term process to mobilize the community to promote positive youth development. Since it was started in 2001, the organization has been doing all it can to promote a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for the youth of Cortland County.  It has implemented a Five Year Youth Development Plan aimed at strategically confronting the problems that disenfranchise area teens. Community service is the perfect compliment to this initiative.

            The youth of today are going to inherit this world, so by being actively involved in bettering the state of things, they can shape the future. A youth who volunteers will take away valuable lessons that could not be conveyed any other way. At a critical point in a young person’s development, they discover the societal flaws that plague the world. They can then choose to reject the system, escaping into the dark path of drugs and alcohol abuse, or to attain a position from which to advocate for positive change. The path of least resistance begins with problem behaviors in adolescence (i.e. substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school dropout, and violence) and captures the impressionable teen in a cycle of learned helplessness. Through community service, a youth can learn that they have the power to change the world for the better.

            An organization like the Cortland County Chapter of the American Red Cross is the perfect place to get involved. The humanitarian principles of the American Red Cross prove that there are still outlets fighting to improve the status quo. The work a young person would undertake with the ARC would give them a sense of purpose. Even the most jaded teen would become enamored with the positive energy characteristic of Red Cross volunteers. They would see their efforts directly improve the local community, and begin to see how their work affects the grand scheme. The praise they would receive in return for service would give them a healthy sense of accomplishment. The connection between self esteem and future success is undeniable.

            Community service is a sure way to empower the youth of Cortland County. Encourage teens to get out from behind the computer monitors, and become active in improving local conditions. The benefits of civic engagement on a young person mark the difference between motivation and apathy; upward mobility and stagnation, success and failure. With the proper direction, teens can escape the pitfalls of substance abuse and realize that they are in control of their own destiny. For volunteer opportunities, contact the Cortland County Chapter of the American Red Cross at (607) 753-1182. Those interested in the CACTC and its goals can contact Project Coordinator Judie Murphy at (607)756-5992.  

The article was written by Bryan Welsh, AmeriCorps VISTA staff member with the Cortland County Chapter of the American Red Cross